Audiophilepure

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/technics-sl-1200gr2

There’s a good level of detail throughout, but it could sound more insightful. We wish the Technics deck had more willingness to dig deeper into subtleties and deliver more dynamic contrast between the levels of instruments. The rhythmic cohesion between the polyrhythms in the Four Tet album is more apparent in rival decks we’ve heard from the likes of Rega; the SL-1200GR2 has a slightly over-damped feel that can rob certain tracks of that liveliness. Alice In Chain’s Down In a Hole is a stunning, emotional track and while all the cards are laid out in perfect order, we think the Technics could convey that lightning-in-a-bottle quality of that singular live performance with more gusto. 

https://www.hifichoice.com/content/vpi-prime-21

Taking the headseat at a table that incorporates Naim’s Supernait integrated, Anatek’s MC-1 phono stage and PMC’s twenty5.24 floorstander, it takes little more than half a track to realise that the latest incarnation of the Prime is really rather special. The VPI immediately underlines its status as a VIP (or should that be VIT – very important turntable) with a performance that is confident without ever feeling hurried or flustered. Regardless of the vinyl you place on the platter (we try everything we can), it’s never heavy-footed in its unaffected sense of ease and solidity. The foundation to this performance is a rock-solid bass that is typically deep, robust and rich. While the Prime 21+ is an undoubted window rattler when it comes to those low frequencies, it is just as adept when more intricacy is required – resolving fine low-end details with seemingly effortless precision.

So, for me, a turntable is a musical instrument. And like with any musical instrument, I spend hours doing things with a turntable that most audiophiles would cringe at. My decks are the mighty Technics 1200 mk7. They are tanks, and I’ve beat the crap out of them.

Ultimately, I want a turntable for listening that at least looks like it could take a beating even if I was going to be kind to it.

Enter the Alva tt v2.

I initially didn’t reach out to review this turntable as I didn’t really see the need. But as my kids are slowly growing and are discovering music. Having a dedicated listening turntable started making more and more sense. Also, it was a great way to mitigate excess screen time and get my daughter specifically to sit with an album look at the artwork, and take the whole listing experience in. She’s into Taylor Swift currently.